In the finale of Going Green I outline where we are today, what’s at stake, and how exactly do we move forward.

The episode examines the role of dark money in shaping the Supreme Court and its relation to climate action. The ongoing climate crisis, the implications of climate-related lawsuits against major corporations, and the political landscape surrounding climate policy are detailed. The conversation also highlights solutions to address climate change.

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Episode Extras - Photos, videos, sources, and links to additional content I found during my research.

Check out the Going Green Soundtrack on Spotify

Episode Credits:

Production by Gābl Media

Written by Dimitrius Lynch

Executive Produced by Dimitrius Lynch

Audio Engineering and Sound Design by Jeff Alvarez

Archival Audio courtesy of: American Optimist, PBS News Hour, NowThis Impact, ProPublica, Edenicity

He's been referred to as the court whisperer, considered responsible for over half of the

justices on the current Supreme Court.

2

The Washington Post wrote that, quote, few people outside government have more influence

over judicial appointments now than Leo, end quote.

3

But that's not all.

4

He has incredible access to money and extraordinary influence to bend society to his will.

5

And as of September 2024, he seems to be running out of patience, telling allies,

particularly billionaires, it's time to go all in.

6

I think there are at least two things that they could do.

7

And I think other people can do this also on a lower level.

8

Look, one, you want to support litigation efforts to enforce the Constitution.

9

We talked about some of those cases.

10

There are many more of those cases that are going to be brought over the next

11

three to five years, and it's really, really important that we flood the zone with cases

that challenge misuse of the Constitution by the administrative state and by Congress.

12

The man behind the curtain is Leonard Anthony Leo, a prominent conservative legal activist

and lawyer.

13

He served for many years as vice president of the Federalist Society and currently co

-chairs its board with Stephen Calabresi.

14

Leo was born on Long Island in 1965 and raised in Monroe Township, New Jersey.

15

In high school, he was voted most likely to succeed alongside Sally Schroeder, his future

wife.

16

Known for his fundraising skills for the senior prom and class trip, classmates nicknamed

him Moneybags Kid.

17

Leo attended and graduated from Cornell University in 1986.

18

and Cornell Law School in 1989, where he founded a student chapter of the Federalist

Society.

19

After clerking for Judge A.

20

Raymond Randolph, Leo became close friends with Clarence Thomas, assisting him during his

Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

21

He went on to join the Federalist Society in 1991 and remained involved in various

capacities for over 25 years.

22

Leo built a powerful network of conservative legal groups

23

including the 85 Fund, Concord Fund, formerly known as the Judicial Crisis Network, and

Marvel Freedom Trusts, which recently received a record $1 .6 billion donation from a

24

little -known but controversial political mega -donor, VAR Side.

25

Side has made donations to polarizing organizations in the past, including $250 ,000 to

the think tank, Heartland Institute.

26

which has a track record of denying climate change.

27

Leo's groups serve as funding hubs for political nonprofits and have raised hundreds of

millions from other donors like Charles Koch and Rebecca Mercer.

28

Over the years, Leo has taken leaves from the Federalist Society to aid in Republican

judicial appointments.

29

In 2016, he worked with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to block President Obama's

replacement appointee, Merrick Garland.

30

Through his networks, Leo has also played a key role in the confirmations of John Roberts,

Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, spending millions of

31

dollars on media campaigns, lobbying efforts, and even promoting the theory that a sexual

assault accusation against Kavanaugh was a case of mistaken identity.

32

Leo's network, fueled by dark money,

33

has also backed politicians and organizations pushing the court to rule on specific cases

in favor of conservative interests.

34

His latest effort is focused on protecting major oil companies from climate -related

lawsuits, including a historic case in Honolulu.

35

In 2020, Honolulu sued several oil and gas giants, such as BP, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil.

36

accusing them of concealing their knowledge about the damaging effects of fossil fuels on

the climate.

37

The city claims that these companies violated laws by failing to warn the public about the

harm caused by their products and demands that they pay damages to cover climate -related

38

costs to property and infrastructure.

39

After years of legal battles, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled the case could proceed to

trial.

40

However, the oil companies

41

backed by Leo's network and 20 Republican attorneys general have petitioned his US Supreme

Court to intervene.

42

The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to review the Honolulu case in its

43

lawsuits.

44

Honolulu's case comes amid increasing climate related disasters, including the devastating

Maui fires

45

which were likely exacerbated by rising temperatures.

46

The city's legal team alleges that oil companies engaged in disinformation campaigns that

fueled fossil fuel consumption and contributed to climate damage.

47

A Supreme Court decision on this case could have widespread implications.

48

Many state and local governments across the US have filed similar lawsuits accusing fossil

fuel companies of public and private nuisances.

49

failure to warn, and other legal violations.

50

States like Vermont have even passed laws like the Climate Superfund Act, which requires

oil companies to pay for climate -related damages.

51

The potential financial fallout for the fossil fuel industry could be immense, with

billions of dollars in damages at stake as cities and states seek compensation to mitigate

52

the impacts of rising sea levels, heat waves, and other climate -related threats.

53

Leo's network, along with Republican attorneys general, is determined to prevent these

lawsuits from succeeding.

54

In April 2024, 20 Republican attorneys filed an amicus brief, a legal document filed by a

third party who has special interests or expertise in a case to influence the court's

55

urging the Supreme Court to review the Hawaii decision, arguing that it threatens states'

rights to set their own energy policies.

56

They claim that Honolulu's lawsuit could undermine the nation's energy infrastructure.

57

Leo's influence over Republican Attorneys General is well documented.

58

The Republican Attorneys General Association, or RAGA, which elects GOP Attorneys General,

has long been financed by Leo's Dark Money Network.

59

Since 2014, Leo's network has donated over $20 million to RAGA.

60

while fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron have also contributed millions to

the organization.

61

Outside of Raga, the Alliance for Consumers, part of Leo's network, has released videos

and Facebook ads calling for the court to intervene in the Honolulu case.

62

They argue that cities like Honolulu should not be allowed to dictate national energy

policy through lawsuits.

63

This PR campaign frames the issue as one of state sovereignty, claiming the case, quote,

would trample over every state's sovereignty to regulate energy and other activity within

64

its borders, end quote.

65

As climate -related lawsuits continue to emerge across the country, fossil fuel companies

are scrambling to avoid going to trial, knowing that a ruling in favor of Honolulu could

66

open the floodgates for similar cases nationwide.

67

Beyond protecting major oil companies from climate -related lawsuits, Leo is currently

focused on flipping the Democratic majority in the Senate, which confirms judges'

68

injustices, and spearheading a $1 billion campaign to combat what he perceives as liberal

dominance in corporate America, media, and entertainment.

69

It's really important, and I think accelerationists will understand this.

70

we need to be building pipelines of talent.

71

Talent pipelines of people who understand that the Constitution matters and that the

private sector and civil society matter.

72

And that means building talent pipelines of people who can be in the C -suite and in

boardrooms because corporate America plays an enormously important role in potentially

73

constraining government.

74

We need to build talent pipelines in the media and entertainment industry so we can begin

to communicate to people the value of this system of limited constitutional government.

75

We need to create talent pipelines for K through 12 education and for higher ed, something

like you're doing with the University of Austin, so that basically we remind people.

76

that the need that that the purpose of higher ed for example is to basically build a

citizenry that's committed to the constitution as it was originally written you know uh...

77

there are there are there are pet pipelines of talent that need to be created their

organizations like the federalist society teneo there are others that are trying to build

78

networks of people uh...

79

who can push these ideas in their own verticals and sectors and american life

80

And then of course, there's the issue of getting the right judges on the court and then

promoting the incubation of litigation that enforces these principles.

81

the funding from Bar side, Leo's Marble Freedom Trust aims to target diversity, equity and

inclusion policies, climate -focused investing and companies he believes prioritize left

82

-wing ideologies over consumers.

83

His efforts include campaigns against major corporations like BlackRock,

84

Vanguard, and Coca -Cola, accusing them of supporting what he calls the quote, woke mind

virus, spread by regulators and NGOs.

85

To facilitate this vision, Leo plans to invest in US local media in the next year and has

joined the by invitation only to NAO Network's board of directors as chairman and has

86

since become a driving force.

87

He described the group as quote,

88

networks of conservatives that can roll back, end quote, liberal influence in Wall Street

and Silicon Valley among authors and academics with pro athletes and Hollywood producers.

89

In a video to potential donors, he shared his intentions.

90

spent close to 30 years, if not more, helping to build the conservative legal movement.

91

And at some point or another, you know, I just said to myself, well,

92

If this can work for law, why can't it work for lots of other areas of American culture

and American life where things are really messed up right now?

93

Teneo, described as private and confidential, includes prominent members such as U .S.

94

Senators J .D.

95

Vance and Josh Hawley, Representative Elise Stefanik, conservative media figures like Ben

Shapiro, pro -athletes and executives from Finance and Energy, as well as key Republican

96

officials and aides to Governor Ron DeSantis.

97

According to the Teneo Network website, the group exists to quote,

98

recruit, connect, and deploy talented conservatives who lead opinion and shape the

industries that shape society." End quote.

99

Now this desire to reshape society got me thinking about a concept called cognitive

evolution theory.

100

For background, the evolution of cognition traces how life on earth has progressed from

simple organisms to the complex cognitive abilities seen today.

101

Human cognitive evolution explains what makes our species unique.

102

performed advanced tasks like calculus and space exploration, but these abilities are not

hardwired.

103

They result from centuries of accumulated knowledge.

104

Many cooperative efforts can be limited and fall apart after 20 or so participants.

105

A key factor for humans is thought to be our ability to establish belief systems

106

Imagine the distant future, communicate about these processes using syntax and symbols,

and through them share perspectives and collaborate towards joint goals.

107

Unlike other apes, humans use these skills for cooperative communication fostering

innovation.

108

Our ability to manufacture realities has set us apart.

109

When it comes to our environment, the stories we tell ourselves can inspire innovation or

foster our own destruction.

110

I'm Demetris Lynch, and this is Going Green.

111

The reason that so many anchors on MSNBC, for example, are losing their minds daily is

because our side is winning.

112

And so we're in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless

if the left allows it to be.

113

Now, when I think of climate change, I immediately think of population control, don't you?

114

I think about the people who don't want you to have children because of the impact on the

environment.

115

This is part of their ultimate goal, to control people.

116

In episode nine, we examined the Obama administration's environmental policies, the impact

of the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, and the Trump administration's impact on US

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climate policy and global efforts.

118

If you haven't listened to that episode, I encourage you to go back and listen to all the

episodes of this series in order.

119

In this episode, the finale of Going Green, I'll highlight where we are today, what's at

stake,

120

And how exactly do we move forward?

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And I'll get into all of that after the break.

122

Episode 10, Choice.

123

In February 2024, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed that the global

temperature exceeded the 1 .5 degrees Celsius threshold for a full year.

124

There is now a 66 % chance that this limit will be temporarily breached in the next four

125

The significance of the 1 .5 degrees Celsius threshold dates back to the Industrial

Revolution, which initiated large scale emissions of carbon dioxide, or CO2, from fossil

126

fuel combustion.

127

In 1751, carbon emissions are estimated to have been less than 10 million tons.

128

Since then, global CO2 emissions have risen dramatically, reaching 37 .15 billion tons

129

in 2022, with a notable 45 % increase since 2000.

130

As we've discussed, these greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the

planet.

131

The 1 .5 degrees Celsius limit is crucial because at this level, the impacts of climate

change are less severe compared to higher warming scenarios.

132

For instance, extreme heat waves are less intense,

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and the warming of the coldest nights in polar regions is reduced, which is vital for sea

ice preservation.

134

In contrast, at 2 degrees Celsius of warming, heat waves and polar warming become

significantly more extreme.

135

A small number of countries are responsible for most emissions.

136

China, the US, and the European Union account for 41 .5 % of global emissions.

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with the top 10 emitters producing over two thirds of greenhouse gases.

138

The energy sector is the largest contributor responsible for 73 % of emissions in 2017.

139

While some countries, including the US and European Union, have begun reducing emissions,

others like China and India continue to increase theirs, albeit with growth that has

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slowed globally since 2013.

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Countries have

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proven that economic growth can be decoupled from carbon emissions.

143

Yet significant action has not been widely taken.

144

In the U .S., partisanship has been a significant contributing factor to the delay in both

reducing emissions domestically, as well as helping unify all countries to do so globally.

145

But it's important to emphasize and highlight that some of the most robust federal

environmental policies have been championed.

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by Republican administrations, particularly those of Theodore Roosevelt, Richard Nixon,

and George H .W.

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Bush.

148

Roosevelt, known as the conservation president, established five national parks, 18

national monuments, and over 150 national forests, protecting approximately 230 million

149

acres of public land.

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His legacy set the foundation for federal environmental stewardship.

151

Decades later, Nixon, despite his controversial political career, was a transformative

force in environmental policy.

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He created the EPA and signed into law the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act,

pioneering the first wave of federal environmental regulations.

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Continuing this legacy, George H .W.

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Bush made a substantial impact with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990,

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which targeted acid rain, urban smog, and toxic air pollutants, demonstrating a firm

commitment to improving air quality and public health.

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However, beginning in the 1980s, the financial self -interest of some and corporate

interests, particularly from the oil industry, began to reshape conservative attitudes

157

towards environmental issues.

158

What was once a bipartisan commitment to conservation

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shifted towards a focus on minimizing costs and regulatory rollbacks, eventually evolving

into outright denial of climate change.

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This radical shift has flourished in the hyper -partisan landscape we see today, where

climate change is framed as a partisan issue rather than the humanitarian and

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environmental concern that it actually is.

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The oil industry has effectively branded climate action as part of a liberal agenda.

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making it a frequent target of conservative think tanks and organizations like the

Federalist Society, the Teneo Network, and the Heritage Foundation.

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But number three, let me speak about the radical left.

165

You and I have both been parts of faculties and faculty senates and understand that the

left has taken over our institutions.

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The reason that they are apoplectic right now, the reason that so many anchors on

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MSNBC, for example, are losing their minds daily is because our side is winning.

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And so I come full circle in this response and just want to encourage you with some

substance that we are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain

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bloodless if the left allows it to be.

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is Kevin Roberts, the current president of the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind

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We are in the process of the second American revolution, which will remain bloodless if

the left allows it to be.

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Since the Ronald Reagan administration, the Heritage Foundation has devised the playbook,

Mandate for Leadership, for many conservative presidents and congressional leaders.

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This error is particularly concerning because of the tone and extremism that is

purportedly planned.

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By now,

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You've likely heard of Project 2025, but you may not have heard the full extent of the

plan.

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It is a four pillar program that includes one, the recent addition of mandate for

leadership, a collection of conservative policy proposals, two, recruitment to quote,

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assemble an army of aligned, vetted, trained, and prepared conservatives to go to work on

day one.

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to deconstruct the administrative state.

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Three, training.

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And four, a playbook that outlines what the next conservative president should do in the

first 180 days to vastly remake the federal government and most effectively carry out the

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Project 2025 agenda.

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For reference, the project's website reads, it is not enough for conservatives to win

elections.

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If we are going to rescue the country from the grip of the radical left, we need both a

governing agenda and the right people in place, ready to carry this agenda out on day one

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of the next conservative administration.

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This is the goal of the 2025 presidential transition project.

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In regard to climate policy, the priorities are, Support repeal of massive spending bills

like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act, which

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establish new programs and are providing hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies to

renewable energy developers, their investors and special interests and support the

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rescinding of all funds not already spent by these programs, end quote.

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In the project 2025 training video titled hidden meetings, the monsters in the attic,

Katie Sullivan, former acting assistant attorney general in charge of the office of

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justice programs, a grant making agency inside the justice department and Bethany Cozman,

a former deputy chief of staff at the United States agency for international development

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during the Trump administration.

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highlight how recruits should decipher language on the environment and how to address it.

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We see that also with environment, right?

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So I remember when I was in school, in elementary school, we were taught that we were all

going to be frozen over by an ice age.

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And of course, this was terrifying.

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And then in the 80s, it was acid rain.

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We were all going to die from the acid rain.

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And then it moved to global warming, which I think most of the people watching this tape

will remember.

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That was during the Obama administration.

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And then science comes along and disproves the global warming theory in large part.

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And we have one of the most frigid winters ever known.

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And then the next thing you know, they're calling it climate change.

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Now, I always understood that climate change meant seasons.

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Our climate does change all the time.

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But of course, that's not what's meant by the left.

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What do you think about all of, about the left's words and definitions in the environment?

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It's a great point, Katie.

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They don't stop.

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Climate change allegedly is everywhere.

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And if the American people elect a conservative president, his administration will have to

eradicate climate change references from absolutely everywhere.

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And according to our intelligence community, the number one threat facing our country

today is, roll, climate change.

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Not Russia, not China, not AI, climate change.

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This is how the federal government is all in on this issue.

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And climate change activists wield a lot of power.

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This is an issue to pay attention to as it has infiltrated every part of the federal

government.

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Now, when I think of climate change, I immediately think of population control, don't you?

217

I think about the people who don't want you to have children because of the impact on the

environment.

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Perhaps not everyone will make that connection, but after spending time in the

international space trying to protect life, I can tell you that this is part of their

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ultimate goal, to control people.

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Population growth, environmental changes, and weather patterns have all been intertwined

by the left.

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They take or even make up a term and create, extend, and alter the definition to validate

whatever ideology or position they want to ingrain and convince others is good, when in

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reality it's not.

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Often, as you just heard, they are simply not coherent or logical.

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Remember, our intelligence community identified climate change as the number one threat to

America.

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So even if you do not work at the Department of Energy, no matter where you work, because

of the Biden administration's executive orders and policy priorities, you will have to

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look for climate change language and get rid of it.

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Regarding Department of Energy reforms, it would quote,

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unleash private sector energy innovation by ending government interference in energy

decisions," as well as, quote, stop the war on oil and natural gas, end quote, end quote,

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refocus the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on ensuring that customers have

affordable and reliable electricity, natural gas, and oil and no longer allow it to favor

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special interests and progressive causes, end quote.

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Remember how deregulation played out with BP and Deepwater Horizon?

232

As to the Environmental Protection Agency, Project 2025 calls for downsizing the agency

stating, quote, EPA structure and mission should be greatly circumscribed to reflect the

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principles of cooperative federalism and limited government.

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This will require significant restructuring and streamlining of the agency, end quote.

235

Project 2025 also calls for reversing the bans on exports of liquefied natural gas and on

the use of hydrofluorocarbons or refrigerant chemicals, a ban that even manufacturers

236

agree with.

237

With a quote, aligned, vetted, trained personnel and super majority of potentially biased

judges, there would be little hope for any form of unified climate action for the

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foreseeable future.

239

This path is expected

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to send us barreling towards 1 .5 degrees Celsius or more.

241

In a 1 .5 degree Celsius world, many severe climate impacts would be reduced compared to 2

degrees Celsius.

242

Sea levels would rise 10 centimeters or four inches less, though irreversible melting of

Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets could still be triggered, causing long -term sea level

243

rise.

244

Small island and low -lying nations would still face existential threats from storms,

floods from rising seas, and land degradation.

245

Compared with today, a 1 .5 degree Celsius world would experience more extreme heat, food

production challenges, water stress and scarcity, increased insect -borne diseases, and

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rising global humidity.

247

Today, global observations show that specific humidity

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The amount of water vapor in the air has increased, while relative humidity or saturation

has declined in many regions.

249

This paradox is explained by global warming.

250

As the earth warms, more water evaporates from the surface, and warmer air can hold more

water vapor.

251

As a result, specific humidity rises but relative humidity decreases, because the air is

not reaching full saturation.

252

especially over land and oceans where the increase in specific humidity is evident.

253

This rising humidity is a health risk.

254

To understand the danger, it's important to grasp how the human body regulates

temperature.

255

The body operates best around 98 .6 degrees Fahrenheit.

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When external temperatures are below body temperature, heat can radiate away.

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Sweating helps cool the body.

258

but in high humidity, sweat evaporates less efficiently, raising body heat without you

even realizing it.

259

If external temperatures exceed 98 .6 degrees Fahrenheit, the body absorbs more heat,

leading to conditions like heat exhaustion and at 104 degrees Fahrenheit, potentially

260

fatal heat stroke.

261

In these conditions, a simple temperature reading won't fully reflect heat danger.

262

Factors like humidity,

263

individual health, and cumulative exposure will need to be considered to assess when it's

too risky to be outside.

264

Overshooting 1 .5 degrees Celsius is becoming likely, with scientists urging quick action

to minimize the duration of overshoot and avoid catastrophic tipping points.

265

According to a report from COP28, prevent overshoot, emissions must be reduced by 43 %

266

Now, could we return to 1 .5 degrees Celsius after exceeding it?

267

According to some climate experts, the answer is technically yes, but avoiding overshoot

is the safest option.

268

The longer we delay action, the more aggressive and costly solutions will have to be down

the line.

269

To reverse overshoot, large -scale carbon capture would be essential, removing 10 to 15

billion tons of CO2 per year

270

in addition to significant emission reductions, not as a substitute.

271

To date, these technologies are still small scale and expensive.

272

And even if we return to 1 .5 degrees Celsius, key systems like permafrost and sea levels

would take centuries to recover, making it far costlier than preventing overshoot

273

initially.

274

So how do we move forward?

275

The top five leading sectors for greenhouse gas emissions are energy, manufacturing,

transportation, agriculture, and buildings.

276

It will take incredible innovation in these sectors to have the biggest impact.

277

But the good news is that we have many solutions at our disposal today.

278

The 2024 Climate Change Performance Index

279

an annual international analysis of climate protection performance, evaluated 63 countries

and the European Union on their climate progress and policy.

280

Around the world, there are examples that, if studied and adopted on a global scale, could

help avert further climate catastrophe.

281

Norway leads the world in the renewable energy category.

282

Its electricity grid is overwhelmingly powered by renewable sources.

283

namely hydropower, and the country has the highest electric vehicle adoption rate in the

world.

284

Chile has set goals of zero net emissions by 2050 and reforesting more than 100 ,000

hectares of land.

285

Similarly, there are incredible global organizations that have committed to unbelievable

reforesting and tree planting efforts like the Arbor Day Foundation, who has set a goal to

286

plant 500 million trees

287

by 2027.

288

In Iceland, Swiss company Climeworks has opened two commercial direct air capture plants,

a technology designed to suck in air and strip out the carbon.

289

The carbon can then be injected deep beneath the ground, reused or transformed into solid

products.

290

In the US, the building industry is increasingly adapting.

291

The building sector consumes nearly 40 %

292

all energy produced in the US and is responsible for a similar share of greenhouse gas

emissions.

293

So energy efficient and net zero buildings, which offset their energy use by what they

generate via solar panels, for example, are seen as crucial ways to rein in carbon

294

emissions and slow climate change.

295

But that all refers to the operational carbon, which is not the only contributor.

296

In the early 21st century, the building of shelter in all its forms consumed more than

half of the world's resources, translating into 16 % of the earth's freshwater resources,

297

30 to 40 % of all energy supplies, and 50 % by weight of all the raw materials withdrawn

from earth's surface.

298

Architecture was also responsible for 40 to 50 % of waste deposits in landfills,

299

and 20 to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

300

Embodied carbon, as it is known, includes emissions from raw material extraction,

transportation of materials, material waste, building operations and maintenance, and the

301

emissions a building continues to produce after it is no longer in use.

302

The UN says resource extraction accounts for half of the world's CO2 emissions

303

and more than 90 % of its biodiversity loss.

304

For the built environment, the most in -demand materials are sand and gravel, which are

used to make concrete.

305

Concrete's ability to resist and repel nature is why it's both so beloved in the industry

and so destructive.

306

It not only destroys fertile topsoil and perpetuates flooding, erosion, and pollution via

surface runoff,

307

It also refuses to decompose for at least half a century.

308

Yet, it remains the most consumed material, besides water, in the world.

309

Sustainable alternatives to concrete are coming to market.

310

For example, hempcrete is a bio -based material that's great for insulation.

311

Geopolymer concrete, which uses industrial byproducts to replace cement, turning waste

into something useful.

312

and ferric cement made from recycled steel dust not only captures CO2 as it hardens, but

is also five times stronger than traditional concrete.

313

Masonry has also had a resurgence as a strong eco -friendly alternative to concrete.

314

To further evolve the industry to a more sustainable sector, U .S.

315

cities are slowly beginning to adopt the development of walkable communities.

316

In broad terms,

317

Walkability is defined by the quality of which the built environment enables the mobility

of pedestrians.

318

A great example is cul -de -sac Tempe, a car -free mixed use development in Tempe,

Arizona.

319

As outlined by Ryan Johnson, the CEO of cul -de -sac, the community is designed to house

320

Cul -de -sac has become the reference project for

321

how to build walkable housing in the US in the 2020s, where it's now the thing that people

can point to.

322

When you're building a new concept, people ask questions.

323

It's a stodgy, slow moving industry and cities, investors, et cetera, ask, where is this

done before?

324

Now everybody could point to cul -de -sac.

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We're already seeing a number of changes and the awareness of walkability, well -designed

streets, safe streets, et cetera, is really continuing to accelerate.

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A lot of the tailwinds that power this business are still growing.

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This is going to be a big trend.

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And hopefully Coldasac can help accelerate that.

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We want to these neighborhoods everywhere.

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We have big plans ourselves, but also we want to unlock everyone else.

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Construction began in 2019 with an estimated cost of $140 million, spanning 16 acres and

including 636 apartment units and 24 ,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.

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Located about two miles from downtown Tempe,

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and adjacent to the Valley Metro Rail, it aims to reduce car dependence by offering

essential services within the neighborhood.

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Residents also benefit from partnerships with rideshare companies and public transit,

while green spaces replace parking areas.

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Many American cities lack walkable neighborhoods, unlike those in Europe and Asia, where

walking is a way of life.

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U .S.

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cities score low in walkability

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partly due to car -oriented urban planning.

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Walkable neighborhoods, however, offer environmental, economic, and health benefits.

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As I've mentioned, transportation accounts for one of the largest shares of U .S.

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greenhouse gas emissions, with passenger cars contributing the most.

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Building amenities closer to homes could reduce car trips and emissions.

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Walkable cities also attract businesses and boost home values

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as millennials and Gen Z increasingly prefer living without the need for cars.

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Walkability also saves money.

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Owning a car costs an average of $9 ,500 annually, while public transit is much cheaper.

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Walking promotes physical health, reduces obesity and related diseases, and improves

mental well -being by fostering community connections.

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To improve walkability,

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Cities need to invest in public transit, affordable housing, and zoning reform for mixed

-use developments and parking requirements.

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Protected bike lanes and pedestrian -friendly streets further enhance livability and

reinforce sustainable living.

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Safety measures like traffic calming and well -lit sidewalks are crucial for encouraging

walking.

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Improving walkability reduces emissions

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and enhances quality of life, but requires bold infrastructure investments in public

transit, affordable housing, and climate resilience.

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An additional solution that has yet to be realized is the reduction of financial

commitments to the fossil fuel industry.

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The IPCC says there is far too much money still flowing towards fossil fuels and not clean

energy climate solutions.

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Historically,

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Subsidies were designed to lower the cost of fossil fuel production and incentivize new

domestic energy sources.

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Today, these subsidies are outdated, but remain embedded within the tax code.

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If fossil fuel subsidies from governments were removed or shifted to renewable energy

sources, it would encourage development and innovation in renewable energy and spur our

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transition to a more sustainable system.

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As an individual, you can also have an impact by spreading the word, like by sharing this

podcast, modifying habits for your diet, shopping, energy usage, and transportation.

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But the single most important thing we can all do is stay engaged in the political process

at all levels.

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As we've seen, despite scientific consensus, global organization validation,

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and confirmation from fossil fuel led research itself, there is still a concerted effort

to prevent climate action.

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Through lobbying, media, opposition campaigns, the legal system, and political corruption,

corporate interests have fought to take power from the people in the name of profits.

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Whether it's getting involved yourself or researching and supporting leaders that act on

behalf of citizens and think

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critically about pursuing solutions to address climate, there is nothing more important

than leaders that understand that this is a problem for humanity that requires unified

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action.

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In 1751, with the world population estimated to be around 770 million, carbon emissions

are estimated to have been less than 10 million tons.

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By 2022, with over 8 billion people around the world,

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Emissions have reached 37 .15 billion tons.

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I reiterate and emphasize this point not to control people as Bethany Cozman might

suggest, but to highlight that as the population has increased, there is an unavoidable

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related rise in carbon and the demand for carbon emitting resources like energy,

transportation, buildings, manufacturing, and agriculture.

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Some estimates put the global population at 9 billion by 2037 to 2046 and 10 billion by

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It is critical to transcend beyond the partisan division and chaos to develop innovative

solutions to address this challenge.

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To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, scientists recommend that we reduce

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While it may sound like a tall order, this is not an impossible task.

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Throughout this series, we've covered the incredible stories of individuals and groups

that have inspired climate actions, innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency and

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environmental quality, bipartisan policies to establish healthier standards, design

solutions to improve the built world, and the resilience of the planet itself.

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Like the problem, our only obstacles are man -made.

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We have the tools, the solutions, and the ability to solve this challenge.

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But there are two paths laid before us.

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A path that, at the risk of environmental degradation and unlivable communities, ignores

and erases scientific evidence in the name of profits and influence for a few.

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Or a path that understands that the environment provides the air we breathe

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the water we drink and the food we eat.

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The path that understands the environment is the fundamental basis of how our communities

live and access the renewable and non -renewable resources on which civilization depends.

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The path that understands our well -being, our economy, our security, all stem from a high

quality environment.

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You have a choice.

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Thanks for listening.

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Going Green is a Spaces podcast story brought to you by Lines.

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If you learned something from this episode or think it would resonate with the print,

please share it and rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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It really helps others find the show.

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If you have a question, want to submit a correction, or just share whatever is on your

mind, I'd love to hear from you.

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You can do that at lines .studio slash podcast.

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That's L -Y.

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nes .studio .com and listen in to my wrap up episode to hear my response.

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If you're looking for similar content, Spaces is a proud member of GableMedia, a digital

media platform where you can find even more content like this.

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Visit gablemedia .com, that's G -A -B -L media .com, and before I go, if you want to see

additional photos, videos, clips, and other content that I found during my research,

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you can visit lions .studio slash podcast.

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Talk soon.